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DISCUSSION => Electrical => Topic started by: adam12hicks on June 18, 2008, 12:52:32 AM

Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: adam12hicks on June 18, 2008, 12:52:32 AM
Cause mine is seriously dark.  It works, but it's like it should be backlit and isn't.  Can it be popped out and is there a bulb back there I can replace?  The rest of the dash is nice and bright, but not the OBC.  I'm just wondering if it's SUPPOSED to be as bright as the rest of the dash.

Thanks!
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: EN318isPDX on June 18, 2008, 03:01:03 AM
yes it has 2 bulbs in the back and they should be bright but rarely are
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: adam12hicks on June 18, 2008, 10:01:00 AM
Cool can they be replaced?  I'll check it out.  My cluster bulbs were all out, as well as the side headliner lamps, and the glovebox lamp, so I imagine these are too.  The PO didn't like changing bulbs apparently!
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: vonkamp on June 18, 2008, 03:26:06 PM
Here's the light bar on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-OBC-Light-Bar-E30-325i-325-1987-1991_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a552Q7c39Q3a1Q7c65Q3a12QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem310059488911QQitemZ310059488911). You could also take the bulbs that are burned out to the dealer. They should have them all in stock...
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: Wizard on June 18, 2008, 06:29:32 PM
Quote from: vonkamp;51533
Here's the light bar on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-OBC-Light-Bar-E30-325i-325-1987-1991_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a552Q7c39Q3a1Q7c65Q3a12QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem310059488911QQitemZ310059488911). You could also take the bulbs that are burned out to the dealer. They should have them all in stock...


That light bar does not fit in our 6 button OBC's...Ours takes 2 bulbs that are in separate "turn and lock" bulb holders.
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: vonkamp on June 18, 2008, 08:16:07 PM
:o You are right. oops
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: BMWManiac on June 24, 2008, 08:28:43 PM
Mine is dim as well....should it be brighter when you turn the headlights on?
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: EN318isPDX on July 22, 2008, 05:31:07 PM
Quote from: BMWManiac;51968
Mine is dim as well....should it be brighter when you turn the headlights on?

The heater controls, the gauges, the OBC should all light up when you pull your light knob.
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: Cobra Jet on July 23, 2008, 10:18:52 AM
I have found that my local Pep Boys auto parts store carries all of the bulbs needed for the interior of BMW's...  even the really tiny bulbs that are located within the OBC's, the front ashtray and rear ashtray...

:)
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: BMWManiac on July 23, 2008, 01:22:48 PM
I just replaced the two bulbs and it looks like it should...bright as hell!
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: EN318isPDX on July 23, 2008, 01:32:30 PM
Quote from: BMWManiac;53702
I just replaced the two bulbs and it looks like it should...bright as hell!

Very nice! maybe ill do this today! where and how much did you get your bulbs? Does the 13 Button take the same bulbs i wonder.
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: BMWManiac on July 23, 2008, 04:20:19 PM
I am not sure about the 13 button OBC, but I just ordered the two bulbs from RMEuropean....I guess you could check Pep Boys to see if they have them.  Then you don't have to wait for shipping.  They are the little 12 x 1.5v I believe
Title: Not quite the same
Post by: romeomike on April 02, 2009, 11:46:09 PM
Quote from: EN318isPDX;53703
Very nice! maybe ill do this today! where and how much did you get your bulbs? Does the 13 Button take the same bulbs i wonder.

The LED display is lit by a white plastic lightbar with two bulbs soldered onto it. There is one twist-on bulb to illuminate the buttons that is identical to the six-button OBC.
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: gearheadE30 on April 06, 2009, 04:30:55 PM
Quote from: BMWManiac;51968
Mine is dim as well....should it be brighter when you turn the headlights on?


There is a little hole-looking thing on the front of the clock that varies how bright the backlight gets.
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: Jorgeconrico on June 16, 2009, 05:16:40 PM
Do these tiny bulbs come out of the black casing or is it one piece?
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: JP 91iS on June 16, 2009, 07:06:36 PM
Quote from: Jorgeconrico;73741
Do these tiny bulbs come out of the black casing or is it one piece?

These are the one-piece kind - sort of like a christmas light bulb.  There are other bulbs in the dash that are sockets and the bulbs themselves can be replaced.

OBC/Instrument Cluster Bulb: 62111368299
Heater/Ashtray/Switches Bulb: 63217167000
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: DesktopDave on June 16, 2009, 09:09:31 PM
I think they just slide out with that little white bit on the side...I'm currently swapping a 6-button for the 13, guess I should have checked.
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: Jorgeconrico on June 16, 2009, 09:19:25 PM
Hey Dave what are you doing with the 6 button.......:rolleyes:??
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: JP 91iS on June 17, 2009, 10:04:52 AM
Quote from: Jorgeconrico;73765
Hey Dave what are you doing with the 6 button.......:rolleyes:??

I've got a couple extras - if you want one send me a pm.
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: DesktopDave on June 17, 2009, 11:57:18 AM
My 13-button isn't lighting...I must have trimmed off too many wires, or the bulbs are burned out.

Does anyone know offhand which wires should go to the 13 button besides the ones from the cluster?
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: JP 91iS on June 17, 2009, 02:54:15 PM
Quote from: DesktopDave;73787
My 13-button isn't lighting...I must have trimmed off too many wires, or the bulbs are burned out.

Does anyone know offhand which wires should go to the 13 button besides the ones from the cluster?

Are you doing custom wiring?  The only wires going to the OBC should all be in one bundle with one green plug.
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: DesktopDave on June 17, 2009, 08:58:18 PM
Quote from: JP 91iS;73789
Are you doing custom wiring?  The only wires going to the OBC should all be in one bundle with one green plug.


No custom wiring...I pulled the harness from a parts car and trimmed the extra relay wires off.  It's  now only the ten or so wires going between the yellow and green connector.
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: JP 91iS on June 18, 2009, 12:23:35 PM
I think you may need some of the wires that run down to the power distribution box on the left side of the steering column beneath the dash.  If I recall correctly that is where the light gets its power from.  Check the electrical troubleshooting manual - I don't think it has the 13OBC wiring but the 6-button wiring should be similar.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/3638382919_87fe6d64b9_o.jpg)
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: DesktopDave on June 18, 2009, 01:07:31 PM
Yeah...I'm sure you're right.  It'll have to wait for some serious spare time...I have to chase down a leak into the driver's footwell anyway; might as well add the 13-button to the cruise control & do it all at once...

 I just had a though...the 6-button has wires running off somewhere else...I'll bet they're similar.  I'll be matching up some colors and post results!
Title: 6 Button OBC - is it backlit?
Post by: BlackBMWs on September 26, 2009, 07:52:39 PM
Quote from: DesktopDave;73840
Yeah...I'm sure you're right.  It'll have to wait for some serious spare time...I have to chase down a leak into the driver's footwell anyway; might as well add the 13-button to the cruise control & do it all at once...

 I just had a though...the 6-button has wires running off somewhere else...I'll bet they're similar.  I'll be matching up some colors and post results!


How'd your cruise control and OBC upgrade go?  I'm collecting the parts to do the same.  Any gotchas?  Thanks!